First Drive: 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet

The Quattro full-time all-wheel-drive with a default 60 per cent rear bias is a good start. Standard in the S5 Cabriolet, and optional on the A5, is Audi drive select, a trio of buttons (comfort, auto and dynamic) that call up pre-programmed groupings of throttle response, shift maps and servotronic steering assist. Naturally, “dynamic” is the most aggressive. If the car is equipped with navigation, a fourth freely-programmable level is available.

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet (top); 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet. Click image to enlarge

My S5 also featured the optional variable-rate dynamic steering and the new rear sport differential that will send torque to the outside rear wheel when cornering, essentially pushing the car around the bend. Mitsubishi, Saab, BMW and Acura use similar systems.

Also available will be electronic adaptive shock absorber control, which uses 14 sensors to determine the optimal damping rates per wheel, and adjust the firmness up to 1,000 times per second.

Phew. That’s a whole lot of tech to throw at a car just to try to keep pace with those folks at BMW. Happily, all this computerized mechanical mojo integrates into a seamless whole, giving the S5 Cabriolet some serious back-road cred. It grips like crazy (Audis have never had a problem in that department) and powers out of a turn like a good rear-drive car. The S5 readily eats up quick transitions and the steering is meaty, too, which for Audi is a rare treat (R8 and RS4 fully exempt from this criticism).

No, the S5 Cabriolet doesn’t quite have the dynamic finesse of the BMW 335i Cabriolet, nor the mellifluous exhaust note of the Bimmer’s 300-hp turbo straight-six — or an available manual transmission — but it is still a formidable road burner in its own right, with a decided high-tech bent.

As always, cutting the roof off a car compromises it structural integrity, and in this regard the A5 Cabriolet get a B-plus. Road imperfections send some quivers through the structure, although it’s no worse than a topless BMW 3 Series.

What you will get with this drop-top pair from Ingolstadt is the security of Quattro all-wheel drive, exquisite attention to detail, Audi’s trademark silken composure, and, I’m guessing, a whole lot of appreciative stares once away from the Cote d’Azur.

Related posts:

1. Buyer's Guide: 2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet
2. Test Drive: 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.0T
3. Test Drive: 2007 Audi S4 Cabriolet
4. Test Drive: 2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet
5. First Drive: 2004 Audi S4 Cabriolet